Systems Scientist
Human Systems and the Biosphere
recent main activity Climate & Energy
Bridging mathematics, ecology, and technology to address humanity's greatest challenges
Systems Science
Researching dynamic systems to understand how and why integrated, complex systems develop over time, spanning ecology, economy, innovation, and energy. I see it as a central task for integrated systems models to represent human beings appropriately, in particular with their intuition and their feelings, i.e., with their being human.
Renewable Energy
Pioneering work on solar electricity grids, battery storage optimization, and sustainable energy systems through advanced mathematical modeling.
Climate Change
Advancing research on climate economics, environmental systems, and the relationship between humanity and the biosphere.
Research Highlights
Solar Electricity Isolines
Published groundbreaking research in PNAS on solar electricity supply isolines for generation capacity and storage, introducing new mathematical concepts for energy optimization.
Read in PNAS →Pan-Pacific Energy Grid
Developed a comprehensive concept for a photovoltaics-and-batteries-based Pan-Pacific electricity grid centered on the Hawaiian Islands, published in Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews.
View Publication →Information Society
Authored seminal book "Entwicklungsstrategien in der Informationsgesellschaft: Mensch, Wirtschaft und Umwelt" (Development Strategies in the Information Society: People, Economy and Environment) published by Springer.
Read on Springer →Current Focus
Exploring the transition to a new energy system based on five exponential technologies:
- Photovoltaics - Advanced solar energy systems
- Batteries - Energy storage optimization
- Power Electronics - Efficient energy conversion
- High-Voltage DC - Long-distance transmission
- Software/Chips - Smart grid technologies
These technologies have the potential to revolutionize how we generate, store, and distribute electricity (and with it, energy) globally.
Firm Electricity Supply at Very Low Costs
Detailed description of new method for achieving firm electricity supply at very low costs.
Literature:
Combination of non-linear optimization methods for achieving firm electricity from renewables at low costs globally
Author: Grossmann, Wolf D. ; Grossmann, Iris ; Steininger, Karl W.
Published: Graz, 2025; Graz Economics Papers ; GEP 2025-06, and submitted, under review.